Brad Pitt unleashes 'World War Z' in NYC

Jun. 17, 2013
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Brad Pitt attends the "World War Z" New York Premiere at Duffy Square in Times Square on June 17, 2013 in New York City. The actor signed dozens and dozens of autographs for fans and posed for endless photos. / Kevin Mazur WireImage

by Donna Freydkin, USA TODAY

by Donna Freydkin, USA TODAY

NEW YORK - Brad Pitt doesn't make too many big films these days, so when he releases one, it's a fairly huge deal. Emphasis on huge.

None more apocalyptic than World War Z, the zombie thriller that hurls into theaters June 21. Pitt premiered the film in Manhattan on Monday, in Times Square, and signed autographs for the appreciative crowd congregated in the heat, waiting for him. Color Pitt impressed.

"How about this?" he asked, looking around.

The film, both starring and produced by Pitt, is based on the novel of the same name by Max Brooks and features a whole lot of the undead rapidly and bitingly taking over the world. Pitt is a United Nations investigator who may be able to figure out what caused the plague, and Mireille Enos (The Killing) as his equally tough wife.

Enos was radiant in J. Mendel and one of the first to arrive. "This process started at around 3:30. My daughter ran around while I was getting ready and said, 'Mommy looks beautiful,'" Enos said with a smile.

In the film, Pitt's character is unflappable and believes that movement equals survival. As for Pitt?

"I don't have a single mantra," he says. "It's just spending time with the people I value. I like calling shots on the fly and having faith in myself to make the right decisions. Wisdom comes with age. I like it!"

In reality, Pitt's better half, Angelina Jolie, made global headlines when she announced that she'd undergone a prophylactic double mastectomy. She did not accompany Pitt this time, like she did to the London premiere of the film, marking her post-surgical red-carpet debut. But she was on his mind.

"She's doing great. Onward and upward," he said.

Thanks to rewrites and re-shoots, the film has been plagued by tales of trouble on the production; the release date was also pushed back from last December. In reality, it's just part and parcel of the "creative process," says co-writer Damon Lindelof.